Research
Our research focuses on metabolic interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME), with particular emphasis on three key aspects currently under investigation:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Secreted metabolites in pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal malignancies. While modern immunotherapies have transformed treatment outcomes in several cancer types, their efficacy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has so far been limited. A key factor underlying this resistance is the highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). PDAC cells undergo profound metabolic reprogramming to sustain rapid proliferation and adapt to the harsh conditions within the TME. These metabolic changes are reflected in the composition of the tumor cell secretome, through which cancer cells can directly modulate neighboring cells, including immune populations. Our research focuses on characterizing the secretome of pancreatic cancer cells and investigating its immunoregulatory effects. This project is affiliated with the Graduate Research Group GRK 2573.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Microbial metabolites in CAR T-cell therapies
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has transformed the treatment of hematological malignancies, yet its success in solid tumors remains limited. A major challenge is the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), which restricts CAR T cell activity and persistence. In this project, we examine how microbial-derived metabolites influence CAR T cell function, including their effector activity and long-term viability. This work is conducted as part of the LOEWE funded consortium CARISMa. (Co-supervision with Prof. Alexander Visekruna)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nucleotide metabolism in cancer
Nucleotide metabolism is altered in several cancer types to adapt to TME conditions or therapeutic approaches. In this project, we leverage our technical and methodological expertise to develop a comprehensive analytical platform covering a wide range of metabolites within the nucleotide metabolism, enabling their accurate quantification in cancer samples. In addition, we apply isotope-labeled substrates to investigate the metabolic fate of nucleotides in these biological systems. This work is funded by the DFG and conducted in association with the Graduate Research Group GRK 2573 as part of a collaboration project with Dr. Niklas Gremke.